Plymouth's first street tramway was opened by the
Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Company Ltd in 1872. Their line
ran from Derry's Clock in Plymouth, through Union Street and as far as
Cumberland Gardens, Devonport. In 1874 this was extended at the Devonport
end to run up to Fore Street.

Plans by the Plymouth, Devonport and
District Tramways Company Ltd to run steam trams from West Hoe to Compton
Lane End were scuppered by the Board of Trade and Devonport Corporation, who
in 1884 brought a sudden end to Plymouth's 10 days of steam trams.

In 1886 the Plymouth and Devonport
(Extension) Tramways Company was authorized to take over the old steam
system and construct some new lines. However, nothing came of that proposal
and in 1890 the existing tracks were taken over by the Plymouth Tramways
Company Limited and then the Plymouth Tramways Company.

The failure of the Plymouth Tramways
Company to complete
their promises to extend the system spurred Plymouth Corporation in 1892 to
purchase the system.
Plymouth Corporation Tramways Department started to
work the lines on Easter Monday 1893.

Electricity became the chosen power in
1899, when the Tramways Department opened its first electric tram service.

Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport
amalgamated in 1914 but it was not until 1916 that through running began
between Plymouth and Fore Street without touching Union Street. The
Plymouth,
Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Company Ltd
remained independent until 1922 when it was unified with the rest of the
system and Plymouth finally reached its full list of services.

During the 1930s a tramway replacement
programme was put into operation so that by 1941 only the line from Drake
Circus to Peverell Corner was left in operation.

When hostilities had ceased, it was
decided to abandon the trams altogether and Plymouth's last tram ran in
1945.